Pipe coupling



. whose wall is t PatentedjJeni 7, 194? ul'rs sm'rss PATENT,

oasis PIPE COUPLING Jean Mercler, New York, N. Y. Application May 24, 1944, SerialNo. smote My invention relates to a new and improved coupling.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a coupling which comprises respective pipe membars, or a pipe member and a coupling head,

which are connected so as to provide a leaktisht joint.

Another object is to provide a coupling wherein the connected pipe member are held securely against considerable longitudinal force.

Another ohject of my invention is to provide an improved coupling, connecting a tube and deformable, to another ahead which has a thicln and rigid if Irma-hie wall.

dither closets to provide a coupling which he disassemhled without deforming the th nwalled tube; to maintain the sealing members in sealing condition upon the thln=walled tuce when it is uncoupled from the coupling-head or other tube; to provide a coupling which will be resistant to vibration; and to provide coupling which has three longitudinal seetions, one section taking up vibration, a second section being a sealing sec tion, a third section holding the coupled parts against outward longitudinal movement. Other objects oi my invention will he stated in the annexed description and drawing which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof.

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view which illustrates one embodiment of my invention. This illustrates. a part of the coupling head 2.

Figs. 2 and 3 are respective longitudinal sectional views which illustrate respective dlfierent embodiments oi my invention. The couplinghead '2 is symmetrical and a pipe line of any length can be secured by connecting a series of tubes and coupling-heads.

or to co 2 (Claims. (Cl. 285-123) of brass or other alloy which is s can be made of any material. i is made of copper, lead,

. longitudinally split end portion a formed into the shape shown in Fig. l; by its;

Without limiting the field of use of the lnven tion, it is particularly intended for use in conmeeting the pipes of a pipe line or system, which is used to transmit liquids under high pressure, such as a pressure of spoons. per square inch or more. Such pipe systems are used extensively in the hydraulic control-systems of airplanes, and for other purposes.

Fig. 1 shows a thin-walled pipe 5 and a pipe or coupling-head 2. The inner end 5 of the pipe I is initially of cylindrical contour, and of the same diameter as the body of the pipe i. As an example, the wall of the thin-walled pipe or tube I can be of stainless steel, whose thickness is one millimeter. The internal dlameterof such tube I is ten millimeters. The pipe or coupling-head 2 is provided with a threaded end portion 2a.

The member 2 has a thick and substantially non deformable wall. A collar 3 is provided with. an internally threaded end portion, which engages the thread of the end portion 2a of the pipe 22. Said collar 3 is provided with a plurality of tiles or grooves ll, by means of which said collar 3 can be screwed into position by means of a pipe wrench, with considerable force. The d is rigid and it is provided with a truste epic ternal wall to. The angle of wall 'ith th longitudinal axis of the tube 9 is ring t is made of hard metal. so order to bite into the wall of wall is deformed by enlarging ti of pipe l. Said pipe i may he s material of the ring 6. The waif. o

The

other suitable material which ca under high pressure. Said gasket portion lo. the ring 5 may have one o}; longitudinal slits.

.Tne ring 3 has a frusto=conlcal well do abuts the corresponding frusto conieal of the split end portion la. The an. abutting end-walls with the common longitudinal axis of members i and 2, is oo es. Adjacent the frusto-conical Wall to of the rims the gasket ring 7 may initially be iormed with a itustcconical wall which initially abuts rtmstoconical wall to. If desired, the initial shape of the continuous body of the ring l, at the right of the split end portion lot, can be cylindrical.

In such case, the gasket ring l will be finally do longitudinal pressure which is exerted by the clamping collar s.

The pipe 2 is formed with a frusto-conical seat S, and in the assembled coupling, a portion of the ring 6 abuts said frusto-conlcal seat S.

In order to complete the coupling between the pipes l and 2, said pipes are assembled while the pipe 1 is in its initial cylindrical shape. The rings 8 and I are assembled between the pipe i and the clamping collar 3. When the clamping collar 3 is tightened by screwing the same upon the thread of the end portion 2a, the gasket ring l is deformed and compressed, so that it forms a fluidtight seal.

The slitted portion of the gasket ring 7 absorbs all vibration, so that the unslitted sealing portion of gasket ring l is not afiectedby vibration. This is particularly important if the tube has a thin an i easily deformable wall. In such case, the tube i will break at the sealing portion of the gasket ring, where a maximum stress exists, unless the vibration is suiiiciently absorbed in a part of the gasket ring which is spaced from its sealing portion.

As an example, in using the above-mentioned thin-walled stainless steel tube, the total length of the gasket ring I is about twelve millimeters, that is, slightly in excess of the internal diameter of the tube i. In such illustrative example, the gasket ring I is made of Duralumin, and the length of the slitted part la is four millimeters.

Fig. 1 shows the parts of the device in their final assembled position. In such position, the edge 6b of the collar which is close to or which abuts the flared external wall of the pipe 9, bites into said external wall, thus providing a strong mechanical connection between the collar 5 and the pipe i. After the collar 3 has been tightened into its final position, a suitable tool can be introduced through the pipe 2, in order to enlarge the end portion 5 of the pip I. This enlargement of said end portion 5 bends the material of the wall of the pipe i along a continuous transverse circular line, at the edge 5b of the collar e. The edge 6?) then bites into the material of the pipe I, and this connection, together with the enlarged flared shape of the end-portion 5, acts as a positive stop, to prevent the pipe I from being forced longitudinally out or assembled position, by the pressure of the fluid or other longitudinal force. That is, when the parts are assembled and tightened as shown in Fig. l, the frusto-conical wall 3a and the abutting end-wall of the split end-portion Ia, prevent the gasket ring from being'forced longitudinally outwardly from the collar 3. Since the gasket ring I is made of copper or lead or aluminum alloy, which is deformed only under high pressure, said gasket ring acts as a stop to prevent the rigid collar 6 from being forced longitudinally to the left of its assembled position. The transverse enlargement of the coupling end-portion 5 of pipe I begins directly at edge db or closely adjacent thereto. This applies to ments.

I thus provide three main mechanical fun'c-' tions, at longitudinally spaced respective parts at the coupling. The vibration is absorbed, either wholly or in major part, at the portion la. The

sealing efiect and possibly the absorption of some of the vibration, are produced at the unslitted part of gasket ring I. The longitudinal mechanism holding elfect is produced at the edge 6b of the collar 6, so that no longitudinal force, or at least no objectionable longitudinal 'force, is imposed upon the gasket ring I.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the pipe 2 is provided with a frusto-conical seat S, the direction of whose taper is opposite to the direction of taper of said seat S in Fig. 1. The ring 6 is replaced by a ring 8 which has an annular circumferential groove 9 in which the enlarged end portion 5 is located. This provides additional resistance against longitudinal separation between the pipes I and 2.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the collar 3 has an annular end-wall which is perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis of the pipes I and 2. This abutting end-wall of the collar 3 abuts a corresponding end-wall of the slitted portion Ia of the gasket ring I.

The assembly of the embodiment of Fig. 2 is the same as the assembly of Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, the biting edge of the collar 6 is designated by the the other embodi-' reference numeral 6b, and in Fig. 2, the bitin edge of the hard ring 8 is designated by the reference numeral 8a.

Fig. 3 shows a biting ring it, which has a biting edge llla. Fig. 3 also shows a gasket ring II, made of lead or other material which can be deformed under high pressure, and shaped differently from the gasket ring I of Figs. 1 and 2. The biting ring It is provided with an annular recess, adjacent its biting edge Ma. The assembly of the embodiment of Fig. 3 is the same as above described.

For convenience, pipe 2 is designated as the outer pipe, and pipe l is designated as the inner pipe, and collar 5 is designated as the holding 1 collar. The portion of pipe 8 which is located inwardly of clamping collar 3, is designated as its coupling-portion. As shown in Fig. 2, the invention is not limited to the type of coupling in which part of one pipe is located inwardly of the associated pipe.

In each embodiment, the holding collar abuts the outer wall of said coupling-portion, between the tip of the transversely enlarged end-portion 5 and the other end of inner pipe I The invention is not limited to a transversely continuous holding collar, or to a transversely continuous gasket collar, or to a transversely con-. tinuous enlargement 5. v

In one aspect of my invention, the member. 6 or 8 .or I II is a holding member which is held fixed relative to the pipes.

The pipe I has a transverse member, namely, the enlargement 5 or other means, which hold said pipe I relative to an end-face of said holding member 6 or 8 or III, to prevent said pipe I from be ng longitudinally displaced under the pressure of fluid, gaseous or liquid, in the pipe line.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the maximum transverse dia'meter of enlargement 5 exceeds the internal diameter of pipe 2. In Fig. 3, the internal diameter of pipe 2 exceeds the maximum transverse diameter of enlargement 5. Hence, in the em: bodiment of Fig. 3, the pipe I may be deformed or it may be shaped initially with the enlargement 5, prior to assembling the parts of the joint or coupling. The collar 3 can hold the holding collar or member directly in fixed position, or through the member I.

As an example, when the collar 3 is unscrewed, in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the collar 6 and the gasket ring I remain assembled as a sub-unit with the pipe I. Due to the small angle of wall 611 with herein apply to all the embodiments.

'In Fig. 2, I prefer that the diameter of the wallportion 8b of the collar 8, should be slightly less than the normal external diameter of the cylin- After the coupling means operative to hold said outer collar fixed to said pipe-member, an inner rigid collar' located intermediate said outer collar and the outer wall of said pipe, said inner collar abutting the outer wall of said pipe at only a single edge of said inner collar, said pipe having an enlargement adjacent said edge, said enlargement being located to oppose the longitudinal movement of said pipe away from said pipe-member, said inner collar having a wall which abuts a Wall of said pipe-member, a

'gasket, a part of said gasket being located intermediate and abutting said inner collar and said outer wall of said pipe, another part of said gasket being spaced longitudinally from said inner col- .lar in a direction away from said pipe-member,

said outer collar having a transverse wall which abuts a transverse wall of said other part of said gasket, said outer collar longitudinally forcing said inner collar and said gasket towards said pipe-member when said outer collar is moved longitudinally towards said pipe-member, said outer collar holding said abutting walls of said inner collar and of said pipe-member in abutting relation, said other part of said gasket being more easily compressible than the first-mentioned p rt of said gasket.

2. In combination with an outer pipe and an inner pipe, a coupling-part of said inner pipe being located in said outer pipe, the end-portion of said coupling-part having a transverse enlarge-' merit, a rigid clamping collar, said outer pipe having an external thread, said clamping collar having an internal thread which engages said exte'rnal thread, said clamping collar surrounding said coupling-part, a rigid holding collar which fits substantially snugly in said clamping collar, said rigid holding collar abutting the outer wall of said inner pipe only at the end of said holding collar which is adjacent said enlargement, a gasket collar which has an outer wall which abuts the inner wall of said holding collar, said gasket collar also having an inner wall which abuts the outer wall of said inner pipe, said clamping collar having a transverse wall which abuts a transverse wall of said gasket collar, said gasket collar and said holding collar being located longitudinally between said abutting transverse walls and said enlargement, said end-wall of said outer pipe be ing located longitudinally between said transverse enlargement and the end of said holding collar which is adjacent said enlargement, said clamping collar holding said gasket collar under longitudinal pressure.

' JEAN MERCIER. 

